All the men’s tournaments in amateur boxing in the last two years have been contested without headgear but this will the first Olympic Games since 1984 without headguards for male boxers. The women’s event will still see headguards and bouts boxed over four two-minute rounds, while the men box three three-minute rounds.

“We are profoundly pleased that there will be no headguards for male boxers in Rio. It is something that has been expected by our boxers and by the boxing fans the world over. Since our very first conversations with athletes and medical staff on the issue we have been investigating the possibility of removing headguards and both our statistical research, and the feedback from boxers and coaches, shows us that this is the best outcome for our sport. It is undoubtedly a great achievement for AIBA to present our boxers without headguards at the next Olympic Games, the most important sporting event,” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.